Envelope closures



United States Patent ENVELOPE CLOSURES Noah Cantor, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,348

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-77) This invention relates to envelopes used in filing and handling of various papers or documents. More particularly, the invention deals with means for closing or supporting the flap of the envelope in closed position, as well as completely enveloping the envelope.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a closure of the character described, which can be quickly and easily attached to the envelope, as well as a reinforcing tab constituting part of the closure means.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope showing one of my improved closure devices thereon in operative positron.

Fig. 2 is an inside view of the flap or cover of the envelope illustrating the joined end portion of the closure means and the reinforcing tab of said means; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with part of the construction shown in elevatlon.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown at 5 a manillatype envelope or portfolio having the extensible peripheral edges, as diagrammatically seen at 6, the top portion of the envelope being open and this is closed by a foldover flap or cover 7. The flap or cover 7 has, centrally and adjacent the lower edge thereof, a vertical slit 8 terminating in end circular apartures 9. At 10 I have shown one of my improved closure means or devices, the device 10 comprising an elastic fabric-type of cord 11, wellknown in the art, end portions of the cord being over lapped and united in a coupling strap or band 12, as clearly noted in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

Adjacent the coupled end, as at 12, the device 10 includes a reinforcing plate or tab 13 having, at upper and lower edges, slits 14, which open into circular apertures 15.

The apertures 9 and 15 are of such diameter as to freely receive the elastic cord 11 of the closure device and this device is in the form of a loop sufiiciently large so as to tensionally support the cover 7 in closed position when the envelope 5 is substantially empty and, at the same time, to extend to support of the envelope when filled to capacity.

In this connection, it will be understood that the passage of the lower end portion of the loop beneath the bottom of the envelope also serves as reinforcing means in support of the envelope and its contents, particularly when the envelope is extensively filled.

The distinctive feature of my invention lies in the fact Patented Oct. 22, 1957 that the device 10 has no definite permanent connection whatever to the envelope. The device, or the elastic loop 11 thereof, when formed or united through the coupling band 12, is first attached to the tab 13 by passing the elastic through the slits 14 for positioning in the apertures 15, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3; whereupon, the elastic 11 is formed into a small loop, which is passed outwardly through the slit 8 and the elastic is drawn so as to bring the tab 13 upon the inner surface of the flap or closure wall 7, as shown in Fig. 3. This leaves a large extending loop which can be freely passed over either end of the envelope for bringing the same into the secure operative position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In opening the envelope, all that is necessary is to draw the elastic loop 11 around one end of the envelope and then raise the flap or cover 7 to give access to the interior of the envelope in inserting or removing papers or other articles with respect thereto.

My improved closure device or loop is adapted for use in conjunction with any type and kind of container, with which the device can be quickly and easily attached in the manner set forth and, wherein, the device, including the reinforcing tab, can be bodily attached and detached by passage through a slit of the kind defined.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an envelope of the character described, including a closure flap, said flap having an elongated slit vertically disposed thereon and terminating at its ends in apertures, a device for retaining the flap in closed position, said device being detachable with respect to said flap, said device comprising an elastic loop insertable through the slit in said flap with the strand of said loop positioned in said apertures and extending along said slit at the rear of said flap, means arranged upon the inner surface of the flap,

7 adjacent and overlying the slit therein, for reinforcing the slit part of the flap, with which said loop is attached, said means comprising a tab having apertures registering with the apertures in said flap and, through which, the strand of said loop passes, the wall portion of said tab overlying the slit of said flap intermediate the apertures of the flap being solid, and said tab having, at opposed ends, slits opening into the apertures of the tab facilitating attachment of said loop with said tab.

2. An extensible closure device for detachable mounting in connection with-containers of the character described, said device comprising an elastic loop, a rectangular tab having spaced apertures adjacent ends thereof, in which the strand of said loop is adapted to be arranged, a portion of the loop bridging the tab between the apertures therein, and the ends of the tab having slits opening into said apertures for positioning the strand in said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 278,851 Bauer June 5, 1883 389,318 Oliver Sept. 11, 1888 424,411 Fielder Mar. 25, 1890 478,538 Gibboney July 5,-1892 1,826,596 Bernson Oct. 6, 1935 2,385,576 Israel Sept. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 173,073 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1921 472,092 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1937 

